Do It For The Ghetto

(album: Start Finish Repeat - 2023)

[Termanology:]
Yeah
I do it for the hood
Still do it for the hood
And for the ghetto
Food stamp baby
Every day in this life
Going to EBT now though
We just tryna survive
I do it for the—
'Ology

Food stamp baby, yeah, I grew up on that welfare
Pot of cheese, pot of milk, yeah, we went through hell here
And it's poor healthcare and it never felt fair
Mama get the belt, yeah, leave a couple welts, yeah
Whip your legs, not your face, so they can't tell, yeah
Feeling like the Fresh Prince 'fore he went to Bel Air
Trouble all around, cuddies caught up in the spell here
Babyface killers with a pocket full of shells here
Schools was condemned, if not, they unaccredited
Crack dealers giving out credit where they was peddling
AIDS spreading with no cure and no medicine
Straight devilish, targeting those with melanin
Politicians give no care, they embezzling
Found the buried treasure in hip hop, it's credited
For turning ghetto kids into millionaires
Thank God 'cause in the end, the glory is his

[Lakeith Rashad:]
Do it for the hood, I do it for the ghetto
This is for the ones on they hustle, tryna make it out the struggle
Ooh, this one for my brothers on the yard
Single ladies, I know it's hard
Trust me, if I ever said it, then I mean just that (I mean just that)
Go get it and I'm bringing it back (Big K.R.I.T.)
I do it for the ghetto

[Big K.R.I.T.:]
Just for every meal that I ate that barely filled up a plate
Unlike the ones during Sunday service
Stomach, I know they hurting
But choirs and soul to fill you up on the gold
To fight the battles of poverty with a shield and a sword
Who gon' lead through the troubles when ain't no road through the rubble?
Them needles, bottles, and hoping they heal the futures of many
With no books for the reading 'cause lights was off when we needed
EBT barely be feeding, but somehow, guns, they had plenty
In the hood, nothing good ever came from a chopper
Just candlelights, melt the block and tears from a mama
Them laws around, Patty's dying in search for the commas and drugs
Government gave 'em the buzz, they got us stuck in the mud
Now that I barely can budge, budgeting, tell me, for what?
We couldn't afford it
I might've stole it back in the day
Now I pay it forward for those that barely could pay
I give it all to God and pray for the hood

[Lakeith Rashad:]
Do it for the hood, I do it for the ghetto
This is for the ones on they hustle, tryna make it out the struggle
Ooh, this one for my brothers on the yard
Single ladies, I know it's hard
Trust me, if I ever said it, then I mean just that
Go get it and I'm bringing it back
I do it for the ghetto

[Paul Wall:]
This is for the 9601 West Montgomery
All my big homies and everything they done done for me
All the way to Southlea where me and Goo would run the streets
Anybody plexing get rolled up like a fronto leaf
I gotta speak on all those that's caught in the struggle
Keep pushing, stay focused, stacking up those Ruffles
My single mama was alone and had bills to juggle
That's the origin story of my hustle
It's time to turn the vibes up and turn your back on hate
I learned there's more to life than how much bread you can make
I was always taught to share whatever's on my plate
Never fake, I forever always give thanks
The first should be last and the last shall be first
Faith without works is dead, you gotta put in work
You gotta take time to till the dirt
Until I'm gone from the earth, I'ma earn my worth
I'ma do it for you

[Lakeith Rashad:]
Do it for the hood, I do it for the ghetto
This is for the ones on they hustle, tryna make it out the struggle
Ooh, this one for my brothers on the yard
Single ladies, I know it's hard
Trust me, if I ever said it, then I mean just that
Go get it and I'm bringing it back